Connecting Toronto and Kenya through music

Adapted from http://www.tdsb.on.ca/about_us/media_room/Room.asp?show=CombinedNews&view=detailed&enableNav=true&self=33998:It’s a partnership that goes beyond borders to bring students an ocean apart together through music.Steve Lashbrook, teacher and coordinator of the One World Youth Arts Project, was invited to represent the TDSB as a special guest at Kenya’s National Music Festival in Meru this summer. Deputy Director Donna Quan and Continuing Education department members Judy Whitfield and Leonard Wandili were pleased to have Steve participate in this incredible partnership.The visit was part of a continuing partnership between the TDSB and Kenya’s Ministry of Education that was established in 2009. Steve enjoyed many fine presentations by Kenyan students who were participating in one of the world's largest school music festivals - more than 70,000 participants at 11 venues over eight days. Presentations in a wide variety of genres included native dance, traditional Western choral music, elocution and many presentations by special needs students. One of the feature choral set pieces at the festival, Torontonian Eleanor Daly's 'The Size of Your Heart' - was introduced to the Kenyan Ministry of Education by the Agincourt CI choir, under the direction of teacher James Pinhorn, during their visit to Toronto last December. Several schools performed this Canadian composition at the festival.

During his time in Kenya, Steve installed and field tested a One World music creation program that he brought over and donated to Friends School Kamusinga. The One World facilities have been equipped with online video-conferencing and collaboration technology. With the help of Mr. Alvarez-Ossa at the One World program site at Georges Vanier Secondary School, TDSB students were able to dialogue and share music and ideas via video connection with students in Kenya. More than just video, it’s now even possible for students to share files and control the computers of their overseas partners to facilitate collaboration.

These One World facilities will enable Kenyan and Canadian students to work on music projects together as part of their class work throughout the year. Kenyan and Canadian students will now be virtually together in the same classroom. One World’s mission is to establish these facilities globally to bring the world's children together through collaborative activities in the arts and all disciplines.Teachers interested in bringing the world into their classrooms are invited to contact Steve Lashbrook at Stephen.Lashbrook@tdsb.on.ca to learn how to create their own One World portals in support of student learning.Watch videos of One World's programming in KenyaJamming at the ComputerChoir SingingVideo-conferencingRecording Bass